by Tim Higgins

Created on: May 22, 2008   Last Updated: November 30, 2011

It's your anniversary, and you and your loved one have left the kids with a babysitter and splashed out on a meal at that Michelin-starred place all the food critics have been raving about The atmosphere is excellent and even though you've made reservations there is still a wait before the waiter comes over and plops down two rather bulky menus with a thud...

Can you imagine if everywhere that served food showed calorie info? There'd be facts, figures, numbers - and in all likelihood, little white lies - everywhere.

Nutritional information IS important. We all know this. However, a little common sense needs to be applied here

Yes, by all means, have it available for anyone who wants to know. In the case of fast food chains, I do believe quite strongly in clearly explained and well displayed. The US and Britain especially are under the strain of an 'obesity crisis' of epidemic proportions, but consider this: Before mommy [insert name of no doubt well meaning mother in news here] sues Mac D's for not warning her that her son would balloon in weight after gorging himself silly there four times a week, surely she must have suitable reasoning?

Fact: Fast food chains sell fast food. Fast food isn't healthy in regular amounts.

You don't need to be a doctor to know that. Uneducated children work it out petty early on. Now, I'm not saying that these people are stupid, and they're probably suing these massive global conglomerates entirely for moral reasons - nothing at all to do with any kind of payout, honestly - but does that now mean EVERY restaurant should have calorie listings? As well as all the other offenders: Fat, sugars (of which saturates?), carbohydrates, additives and of course, the dreaded E-numbers.

Allergy information is different. In some cases, such as with nuts and shellfish, these warnings can be life saving. Some would argue that warnings about fatty food are equally life saving, albeit usually on a more long-term basis. But even more helpful, would be a change of attitudes

If you're reading this kind of info in a restaurant, how likely is it you'll leave to buy food elsewhere? Be honest with yourself.

Do your body the biggest favor and find out for yourself; use the Internet. Hell, WALK to the library and they'll have reams of useful books and magazines, articles and testimonies, all of which can be used to the advantage of your health and your families. Exercise, and cook at home.

Yes, nutritional information is important, but to rephrase my earlier statement, so is common sense.

Now all we have to do is get them teaching it in more schools...

Learn more about this author, Tim Higgins.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.